Age is but a number however, when it comes to sports and competing at a high level age will only continue to make it harder to do so. When we're younger we are more durable, flexible and have more energy than when we turn old and grey. That being said, where age may make things a little tougher it should not be said that it is impossible to be a competitive athlete later in life. Today we'll be looking at: why to start young, personal goals for each person, support regardless of age and why starting too young could be a bad thing and other concerns.
Starting Young
Why start young? Starting younger is said to be easier as the brain is still developing and malleable. Also if you start young chances are you will only continue to progress if you decide to stick with it. You may be able to accumulate more hours in practice and get a head start on those that start later in life.
Everyone starts somewhere and starting younger will give you a great lead when it comes to competing. things truly take time to perfect and practice certainly can make perfect. It should be noted that it is possible to start too young and is dependent on the individual and their swimming skills.
Personal Goals
No matter your age you should also look at your own personal goals. Competing certainly is not for everyone. Some people may enjoy swimming and do it as a leisurely activity to stay in shape. Competing at a high level is no joke and requires a lot of self discipline in order to not only qualify but to place higher in the rankings. Before we do
something we should consider our goals and determine which path is right for us, that may be competing or that may be casual and leisurely visits to the local pool. Even our enjoyment of the activity is something to think about. Do we enjoy the sport? Are we passionate about this sport and desire to become one of the all time greats or to simply set a high goal and try to reach it? If the answer is an enthusiastic yes then we should plan out our next steps and follow a plan to help in our success.
Regardless of where we place on the podium however there are still plenty of benefits of competing. It can be a great motivating factor and time crunch when you must prepare for an event on a specific date, pushing us and keeping us accountable for our goals. It's no mystery that athletes reap the benefits of incredible physical health as long as they can remain injury free and stress free for the most part.
What Age are Athletes?
Anyone can be a professional however, athletes' professional careers span from around the age of 20-30 for most sports, especially high contact sports like hockey, football and rugby. Some sports however have little to no physical contact and can help keep you agile, flexible and strong. Sports like golf, tennis or swimming can be appreciated and competed in even in our later years. Furthermore many still find success in these sports as there have even been multiple swimming records set by people in their 30s and 40s. If we train consistently and smartly we made be able to compete well into our lives.
You should always follow your heart and your true desires. Just because someone says you can't do something doesn't mean it's true. We have been shown time and time again with great dedication anything is possible no matter your age. The older you get may even make training that much more important for health. Consistent training may even be able to slow down the aging process.
Training to Reduce Aging
If you train properly and consistently you can find success or even find age defying traits and slow down the ageing process. There is a real use it or lose it factor when it comes to our bodies not only physically but mentally.
Starting Too Young
Training too early could also be a problem. If you start too young it is said that too much stress can be placed on a frame that is not yet ready for it. Some people even believe that weight lifting for example can stunt growth. It’s said that children should begin weightlifting around 8-10 years old but even still it is important that they have proper guidance and a qualified trainer to watch over them during their training. Even before actual weight training it is necessary to have proper motor functions and movement patterns.
The first focus on training especially for someone young is to make sure movement patterns with bodyweight are sound to make sure they will be able to train with weights safely and effectively. Children also have different emotional needs than adults and so it is important to keep their stage of development in mind and supervise them in order to ensure they are behaving themselves and training safely.
Other Concerns
Regardless of age we should also take into account our overall health and any medical conditions we have. Some medical conditions do not allow you to over exert yourself. Other physical limitations may make it difficult to compete and often genetics can also hinder potential success as a top competitor. Aside from that, the most important thing is our mental health. We should not allow competing or training to become burdensome or affect the way we see ourselves. Setting large or unrealistic goals for ourselves before being able to achieve them may also be associated with lack of motivation. If you really find yourself struggling with your goals you may want to consult with a profession and seek guidance.
Learn Swimming Near You
Our tutors are here to guide you as they want to see you excel in your swim lessons. Oftentimes sharing what we know on a topic that we love can be extremely rewarding. Think of it like sharing one of your favourite activities with a new friend.
For swimming it may be best to get an in person tutor as they can be more hands on and catch you in action correcting real time problems. Learn to swim as an adult with adult swimming lessons or as a child. Swimming lessons are for everyone of all levels and backgrounds.
Although in person classes are great an allow for hands on teaching it's not to say that it can be done online. Simply by filming your workouts and swimming sessions some corrections may even be easier to spot while watching a clip multiple times over or in slow motion.
Other parts of learning the sport may happen in a classroom like education of: theory, strategy, nutrition, sleep. While these swimming classes may not take place in an actual swimming pool they may just what you need to get a competitive edge in the swimming pool.
Closing
Clearly there is no specific age at which competitive swimming begins in Canada, but starting at a young age can provide advantages in terms of physical development and accumulated practice time. Starting later may also be possible as long as you are serious about your training and follow a good routine. Furthermore even though our biology changes as we age we may be able to reverse aging effects if we train regularly and stay in good shape.
However it is important to consider personal goals and enjoyment of the sport to see if competing is right for you. Competing requires self-discipline and can provide motivation and physical health benefits, but proper training and supervision are important to avoid injury. It is also important to consider age, overall health, medical conditions, and mental well-being. While in-person coaching can be helpful for swimming, online coaching can also be effective through video analysis and attention to other important aspects of competitive swimming outside of the water.
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